BLACK CURRANT PLANT NAMED &#39;Nicola&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of black currant (i.e. Ribes nigrum L.) is provided. Appealing flavor, long upright shoots, multiple racemes per bud, large fruits size and frost hardiness characterize the invention. The mid-season variety is ideal for North American markets due to the flavor, frost hardiness, high yields.

Genus and species: A new and distinct cultivar of black currant (i.e. Ribes nigrum L.) is provided.

Variety denomination: The variety denomination is Stikine.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The new black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivar, the invention, was created as part of the planned cross-breeding program beginning in 1998 in Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. The new cross was completed in 2004 and selected for further field trials in 2008. The female (seed) parent used was Orlovskaya Serenada (Minaj Shmyrev x Ershistaya) and the male (pollen) parent used was Titania (Altaskaya Dessertnaya x [Consort x Kayaanin]), defined as Orlovskaya Serenada x Titania. Titania is the subject of a U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,439 granted Jul. 11, 2000. The patent status of Orlovskaya Serenada is unknown since we do not speak Russian and cannot read search results on the internet although it is very likely that it is the subject of plant breeder's rights as it is a fairy recent release from the Orel breeding program.

‘Nicola’ is the product of a 2004 cross between Orlovskaya Serenada as seed parent and Titania as pollen parent. It was necessary to time the flowering as Orlovskaya flowers 7-10 prior to Titania. We used a cooler to delay flowering in Orlovskaya Serenada.

The crosses were made in a greenhouse to avoid losses due to frost. Pollen was extracted from anthers, using forceps. The anthers were placed under a heat lamp overnight. After removing the anthers from the seed parent with forceps, and with a separate set of forceps and with the aid of a magnifying visor, pollen was applied to each pistil. The pollinated flowers were covered with a bag for two weeks.

Seeds were collected from the pollinated flowers and stored in a cool place until they were planted in seed trays. The seeds were germinated in the greenhouse. Seedlings were screened for symptoms of White pine blister rust before selection. The plants were grown out for two years. Each year each plant was examined for symptoms of white pine blister rust. In 2020, each plant was evaluated for yield potential, growth habit, resistance to powdery mildew fruit size.

Trials were replicated in the following locations in Canada:

-   Courtenay, British Columbia -   West Saanich, British Columbia -   Chilliwack, British Columbia

Trials were also replicated by Montana State University in the following locations in the United States:

-   Corvallis -   Bozeman -   Kalispell -   Helena

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The new cultivar is distinguished from other varieties by the following characteristics:

-   a. Outstanding juice and fresh flavor profile—the pleasant flavor     expressed in the invention is characterized by the Minaj Shmyrev     lineage and more fitting for the North American market than     traditional black currant flavors. -   b. High yields—the multiple racemes per bud and number of buds per     shoot lend this variety to high flower and fruit counts per plant     (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). In replicated trials in Chilliwack, BC, the     variety yielded on average 14 pounds of fruit per plant in     comparison to Titania, which yielded 15 pounds on average per plant. -   c. Even ripening—the mid-season variety, fully cropping a few days     before Titania, displays even onset of ripening ideal for one-time     harvesting of fruit in a commercial setting (FIG. 2). -   d. Fruit size—the variety has large fruit even in comparison to     other large fruit varieties such as Titania. The average single     berry weight for the cultivar is 0.049 ounces compared to 0.035     ounces for Titania. Similarly, the fifty-berry weight is 2.45 ounces     compared to 1.7 ounces for Titania on average. -   e. Frost tolerance—the fruit of the plant has tolerance to frost as     characterized by the Russian plant parent Orlovskaya Serenada during     flowering in comparison to Titania. Is tolerant as to temperatures     as low as −12 degrees Celsius, not including windchill. Compared     with plant parent Titania, ‘Nicola’ is more tolerant of cold     conditions at time of flowering; has more upright growth habit,     higher yields, significantly larger fruit and outstanding flavor     profile. Compared with plant parent Orlovskaya Serenada, ‘Nicola’     flowers 7-9 days later. -   f. Disease Resistance: Compared with Ben Alder and Ben Titania,     ‘Nicola’ is highly resistant to white pine blister rust and powdery     mildew as is its paternal parent Titania.

The cultivar of interest has been asexually reproduced from hardwood cuttings in Courtenay, BC Canada. The area where the plant was discovered is the Comox Valley, BC which has mild weather conditions during most seasons (See FIG. 7).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended photographs demonstrate typical specimens of the new cultivar in color and relative size as true as is reasonably possible.

FIG. 1. Overall growing pattern of the plant. The photograph shows the compact, upright growth pattern of the variety.

FIG. 2. Demonstration of leaf color on the upper side.

FIG. 3. Demonstration of leaf color on the underside, including the venation.

FIG. 4. Demonstration of cane color as well as fruiting structure on the plant.

FIG. 5: Demonstration of the flower density and color on the plants.

FIG. 6: Demonstration of the evenness of color and ripening of the fruit, as well as fruit size in centimeters.

FIG. 7: Weather Data

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Description of the Cultivar

The following is a detailed description of 3-year-old plants of the new variety as observed at the trial location in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. Colors referenced are described and notated using the Munsell® Color Charts for Plant Tissue standards.

-   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Long, upright branches, compact growth, but             spreads at time of fruiting due to crop weight making the             growth habit high, round.         -   Dimensions.—Average plant height is 73 inches tall and 23             inches in diameter.         -   Stems.—10-12 basal shoots (without pruning); average length             of 64 inches and diameter of 0.5 inches. Mottled colored             varying between 5 R 3/4 and 2.5 YR 7/4 on the Munsell color             chart, with medium roughness.         -   Vigor.—Strong, sturdy shoots usually erect except in             over-productive seasons where fruit weight spreads the             shoots. Shoots not so brittle as to break under weight.         -   Roots.—Fibrous. -   Leaf buds:     -   -   Bud frequency.—33 buds per stem on average.         -   Bud coloration.—2.5 GY 8/4.         -   Bud appearance.—Acute bud apex tapering shape, 0.625 inches             in length and 0.125 inches in diameter on average.         -   Bud burst.—Mar. 15, 2015. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaf coloration.—Upper leaf 7.5 GY 3/4; lower leaf 5 GY 6/4.         -   Leaf appearance.—Medium glossiness on the upper side and no             glossiness on the underside, palmatifid lobed leaf that is             cordate in shape at the base and acute at the tip. Leaf             margins are serrate.         -   Leaf texture.—Smooth but rugose.         -   Leaf venation.—Dichotomous 5 GY 6/8.         -   Leaf configuration.—In comparison to Titania the base of the             leaf is narrower. the terminal lobe is smaller and the             rugosity is comparable in severity. See FIG. 4.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternating pattern; 28-30 per stem on             average.         -   Leaf size.—4.33 inches length and 4.72 inches width on             average.         -   Petiole coloration.—5 GY 6/8. -   Bract:     -   -   Bract frequency.—None.         -   Bract coloration.—Not applicable.         -   Bract appearance.—Not applicable.         -   Bract texture.—Not applicable. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Bud appearance.—Narrow acute apex, 0.55 inches in length and             0.2 inches in diameter.         -   Bud coloration.—7.5 GY 8/4. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flowering date.—May 1.         -   Flowering period.—May 1 through May 13.         -   Flower coloration.—5RP 6/10.         -   Flower appearance.—0.5 inches in length and 0.3 inches in             diameter, the flowers are bell-shaped to funnel-shaped when             in full bloom. No detectable fragrance.         -   Flower racemes.—Long, several per node, frequent.         -   Flower frequency.—Consistently several racemes per bud with             8-12 flowers per raceme.         -   Petal frequency.—5 per flower.         -   Petal appearance.—Linear shape, rounded apex, entire             margins, sessile base. 0.3 inches in length and 0.1 inches             in diameter, neither surface is waxy, but smooth.         -   Petal texture.—Slightly downy (both surfaces).         -   Sepal to petal frequency.—1 sepal to 1 petal.         -   Sepal appearance.—Linear shape, rounded apex, entire             margins, sessile base. 0.65 inches in length and 0.15 inches             in diameter, neither surface is waxy, but smooth.         -   Sepal coloration.—5 R 7/8.         -   Another appearance.—5 Y 8/8, no dimension data readily             available.         -   Filament appearance.—2.5 Y 8/6 — no dimension data readily             available.         -   Style appearance.—Tubular stalk, hairy at base. 2.5 GY 10/8.         -   Ovary appearance.—2.5 GY 8/8, no dimension data readily             available.         -   Pedicle appearance.—10 R 7/4, 0.4 inches in length.         -   Peduncle appearance.—2.5 R 8/4, 1.6 inches in length, no             data on diameter. -   Fruit:     -   -   Size.—Large sized fruit (notably larger than Ben Alder and             large in comparison to Titania.) The average single berry             weight is 0.049 ounces, average diameter is 0.787 inches.         -   Taste.—Pleasant, sweet, unique, mildly acidic palatable             taste.         -   Configuration.—Round.         -   Consistency.—Firm, medium skin thickness, smooth texture,             and minimal waxiness.         -   Appearance.—Medium glossiness, black when ripe (5 RP 3/2).             Attractive and presented in dense sections with uniform             berry size and color within a section. See FIG. 2.         -   Fruit ripening.—Even.         -   Yields.—Multiple racemes per bud, high number of buds per             shoot (thus high flower and fruit counts). Yields on average             14 pounds of fruit per plant. Approximately 20 berries per             cluster.         -   Management and harvesting.—The variety is suited for             machine-harvest as evident by the upright growth and even             ripening of fruit. Additionally, the plants are suitable for             hand-harvest with the large, firm fruit and multiple tight             racemes per bud for quick harvest of many fruit.         -   Management and harvesting.—Suitable for machine harvest due             to even ripening and growth habit. Also suitable for hand             picking due to easy-to-pick groups of berries (racemes).         -   Market.—Marketable for both commercial and domestic             production due to the flexibility in harvest methods (hand             or machine). The sweeter, less-acidic taste lends itself for             consumption by the North American market both in fresh fruit             and processed form. Frost hardiness, white pine blister rust             immunity, and mildew resistance allow for robust growing             conditions.         -   Juice yield.—No data is readily available.         -   Brix.—Average 15.2°.         -   Seed frequency.—No data is readily available.         -   Seed appearance.—No data is readily available.         -   Fruit keeping quality.—No data is readily available. -   Disease and pest resistance: Immune to white pine blister rust     (Cronartium ribicola Fisch.) in British Columbia (a characteristic     of parent plant, Titania). Resistant to powdery mildew and Septoria     leaf spot (Septoria ribis Desm.). -   Resistance to cold: Flowers display frost hardiness compared to its     parent plant, Titania. Plants have been exposed to temperatures as     low as −12 degrees Celsius, with windchill not taken into account,     and suffered no ill effects. 

1. I claim a new and distinct variety of Black Currant plant as illustrated and described. 